Risks of tobacco

Alternative Names

Information

Tobacco is a plant. Its leaves are smoked, chewed, or sniffed for a variety of effects.

Tobacco is an addictive substance because it contains the chemical nicotine.

Tobacco contains more than 19 known cancer-causing chemicals (most are called "tar.")

HEALTH RISKS OF SMOKING OR SMOKELESS TOBACCO

There are many more reasons to quit using tobacco. Knowing the serious health risks may help motivate you to quit. When used over a long period, tobacco and related chemicals such as tar and nicotine can increase your risk of many health problems.

If you join smoking cessation programs, you have a much better chance of success. Such programs are offered by hospitals, health departments, community centers, and work sites. See: Stop smoking support programs

Revision

Last reviewed 11/23/2011 by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine.

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